Mysterious Mansion Tours

In the kitschy Smokey Mountain town of Gatlinburg, the family-owned and operated Mysterious Mansion is a haunted dwelling that has delighted in frightening visitors year-round since 1980. The three-story Victorian mansion on River Road, a block from the entrance road to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, incorporates antique shop finds, fake bloody skulls, live actors, fog machines and strobe lights to catch visitors off-guard. Tours of the mansion are always self-guided and not recommended for very young children.

The labyrinthine interior includes secret passageways, creaking staircases and rooms of gore carefully curated by the descendants of the house’s original owners. Visitors rave about the frighteningly passionate live actors, but lament that the scares don’t last longer – tours take an average of 15 to 20 minutes.

Practical Info

Mysterious Mansion is (usually) open daily with hours varying by season. The home’s creaky doors generally swing open for business in the afternoon on weekdays, and in the morning on weekends – it stays scary until 9 or 10 p.m. Call (865)436-7007 for current operating hours. Tickets cost $13 for adults and $9 for children six and over, including taxes.